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Published on: December 7, 2015
Superconducting nanocrystalline tin protected by carbon
Vilas G Pol1, P Thiyagarajan, Somobratra Acharya
1IPNS, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois 60439, USA. vilaspol@gmail.com
Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids
|May 14, 2009
Summary
Nanosized tin crystals synthesized using allyltriphenyltin demonstrated superconductivity. These pure tin (Sn) crystals, protected by carbon, exhibit this property at a critical temperature of 3.7 Kelvin.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Solid State Physics
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Superconductivity in tin (Sn) materials is a subject of interest.
- Developing novel synthesis methods for nanostructured superconductors is crucial.
- Carbon encapsulation can influence the properties of nanomaterials.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize nanosized pure Sn crystals.
- To investigate the superconducting properties of these novel Sn crystals.
- To explore the role of in situ formed carbon protection.
Main Methods:
- Thermolysis of allyltriphenyltin in an inert atmosphere.
- Synthesis conducted under autogenic pressure in a closed reactor.
- Characterization of resulting Sn crystals for purity and structure.
Main Results:
- Successfully synthesized pure, nanosized Sn crystals.
- Observed superconductivity in the synthesized Sn crystals.
- The critical temperature for superconductivity was measured at 3.7 K.
- In situ formed carbon layer protected the Sn crystals.
Conclusions:
- The thermolysis method is effective for producing superconducting nanosized Sn crystals.
- Carbon protection plays a role in stabilizing the nanostructured Sn.
- The findings contribute to the understanding of superconductivity in nanostructured materials.
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